Liquid-fuel burner and control means therefor



Dec. 14-, 1926.

J. P. JONES ET AL LIQUID FUEL BURNER AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR FiledSept.- 18, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 5 8 7 2 m M w .2 mam W u a J a a l Zm m w. .7 w e WM 1 Z I i |::|e i 5 f" u, 5 Mml 5 Z 5 .i/. */T 3 5 l l W2 n .a M U E 5 w a x I 9 a 5 2 3 a l 1 r w .ru 1 E T 9 5 i T Ill C a w,J M 3 4. .III! e a 4 a 7 a w x a Dec. 14, 1926. 1,610,290

J. P. JONES ET AL' LIQUID FUEL BURNER AND 'CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR FiledSept. 1a. 1925 :s $heets'-Sheei s 7-- 4/ I if 52 I a gwue'ntoc I IJRJones i 1 .37 5 GJVemZap/z Patented Dee. 14, 1926.

UNITED s'ra'rrszsv 1,610,290 PATENT OFFICE.-

aomv raUL'JonEs, or CINCI'NNATI, AND enouen NEMBACH, or s'r. BERNARD,OHIO.

LIQUID-FUEL BURNER-AND CONTROL MEANS 'rnnnnron.

Application filed September 18, 1923 Serial lTo..663,41 5.

cut off the*oil supply when'a predetermined temperature is reached. Iffor any reason the current ceases to, flow at the. time it is required,thefvalves will of course remain open. Therefore, it is one of theobjects of the present invention to provide a control for liquid fuelburners which will operate automatically to regulate the flow of liquidfuel of carbon in the liquid fuel supply pipe.

.air thus effecting, of the burner, and, on the other hand, a heating ofthe air before its delivery 1nto the furnace. tion also contemplates apre-heatingof the to the burner and which will require little attentionfor its'succ'essful operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with aburner to which a both liquid and gaseous fuel are delivered,

' means for controlling both supplies, auto matically, and-without wasteof fuel or the deposition of carbon in the burner or the conduit leadingthereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control unit for aliquid fuel burner soconstructed and operating in such a manner thatwhen the operation of the burner is interrupted, theliquid fuelremaining in .the liquid fuel supply pipe for the burner will be drawnback through the pipe for future use and thus prevent liquid fuel be;ing discharged into the firebox of the furnace in an unconsumedcondition, and likewise preventing, as stated, the accumulation Theinvention has as a further object to provide a. novel onstruction ofliquid fuel burner in which the liquid fuel will be atomized anddischarged into thefire box of the furnace in a manner to effectcomplete combustion of the fuel, thus economizing in fuel and obtainingthe best results.

Another objectof the invention is to so construct and so mount theburner that air to provide oxygen for supporting combustion will besupplied in the most effective manner.

Another object of the invention is to soarrange the parts ofthe burnerthat there will he an exchange of heat units between the hotter portionof the burner and the enter ng on one hand, a-cooling In this connectionthe invenliquid fuel at the time it is delivered to the burner.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in partlyin plan and artly in horizontal sect1onillustrating the urner. and control unit embodying the presnt inventioninstalled in the fire box of.-a furnace of special design;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevationillustrating the control unit in detail; i

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the control unit; j I

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the burner, installed.

' In the drawings, the furnace fire box is.

indicated in' general bythe numeral 1, the burner by'the numeral 2, andthe control unit by the numeral 3. In order that the invention may bemost effectually carried out, it is preferable that the burner andcontrol he installed in connection with a furnace fire box of theellipticalform shown The burner comprises a cylindrical casing which isindicated by the numeral'7 and which at one end is connected to thedischarge 8 of a blower indicated in general the numeral 9. The blowermay'be' of any of the standard types and in operation is intended todeliver a blast of air through the casing 7.. The opposite end of thecas:

ing 7 is mounted within one end wall 6-0f the fire box of the furnace,being preferably provided with an outstanding flange l0 seating againstthe inner surface of the said furnace wall. Arranged within the caslng 7is a mixing chamber which is-indicatedthe numeral 11. The mixing chamber11. comprises a hollow frusto-coni'cal body 12 preferably provided atits major end with an outstandin flange 13 abutting the flange 10 of thecasing 7 and secured thereto in any appropriate manner whereby the saidmixing chamber will be-supported 1n axially alinedrelation within and tothe casing 7. At its said majorend, which end opens into the firebox ofthe furnace, the mixing chamber is left entirelyopen, but its minor oropposite end is closed, as indicated by the numeral 13 except thatopenings are formed through this closed end for the fit-- ting ofcertain pipes which will now be rethe pipe 14 and within the mixingchamber comprising the shell '12, and the said air nozzle comprises ahollow frusto-conical body 17 which is openat its forward or.

minor end and closed at its major endby an end Wall 18 which is formedcentrally with an opening adapting. the nozzle to be fitted and securedupon the pipe 14, the discharge or minor end of the nozzle being locatedin rearwardl spaced relation to the discharge end of t e said pipe 14.The nozzle 16 is arranged in concentric relation to the pipe asillustrated in Fig. 4, of the drawings. The numeral 19 indicates airsupply pipes which are fitted each at one end through the closed endwall 13 of the mixing .chamber and at its other end through the closedend wall'18 of the nozzle 16..

These pipes therefore establishcommunication between the interior of thecasing 7 and the interior of the nozzle so'that when air is deliveredunder pressure to the casing 7, it-will pass through the pipes and intothe nozzle and finally be dischar ed from the nozzle at the open forwarden thereof. In order that a vortical movement may be given the aircurrents delivered from the pipes 19 into the nozzle 16, the pipes arearranged obliquely, with relation to the axis of the .pipe 14 and in aseries around said pipe.

Consequently, the jets of air issuing from the pipes are delivered intothe nozzle 16" at an angle and, striking the frusto-oonical wall of thenozzle, are given a swirling or vortical motion and are so deliveredfrom the discharge end of the nozzle. In conse-. quence of the swirlingmotion given the air currents, the currents will swirl about anddisintegrate or atomize the liquid fuel delivered from the pipe 14 sothat the vapor ized fuel and the .air are thoroughly mixed by the timethe two are discharged from tghe mixing chamber. 11 into the furnacefire It is evident that in order to insure perfect combustion of thefuel, it is necessary that an additional volume of air be supplied tothe firebox of the furnace, and the pres ent invention contemplatesdelivering this additional volume of air into the fire box in suchamanner as to conserve fuel and insure of its most perfect combustion,and likewise prevent radiation of heat from the walls of the fire boxwith a consequent loss in efficiency. Air conducting pipes 20 are placedin communication at their rear ends with the 1 of the drawings. Aspreviously stated, the burner 2 is mounted in one ofthe end wallsof thefurnace fire box, and the fire box, in horizontal section, is ofelliptical form. In consequence of this contour given the fire box wallsand likewise in consequence of the angular disposition of the pipes20,the air currents issuing from the pipes will travel around the innersurfaces of the side walls.

of the fire box and will meet at the other end walls -6 thereof. Wherethe air currents meet they will be of course deflected and will thenflow inwardly toward the center of thefire box and willmeettheblast ofburn ing fuel delivered from the burner. By reason of this arrangementand because of the path taken by the air currents delivered from thepipe 20, the walls of the fire box are kept relatively cool,- and, as afirst consideration, the burning fuel ,is supplied with oxygen in amplevolume to support combustion and insure of complete combustion of fuel,precisely at the point where this result should be effected, namelyat'the central portion of the fire box. At this point it will be evidentthat complete combustion of the fuelis insured and that the fuel isburned in the most economical and effective manner so.

that the greatest benefits will be obtained from the volume of fuelconsumed. It will also be evident that there is little likelihood of thefire box walls requiringfrequent repairs because of burning out, as isthe case in furnaces where the liquid fuel is consumed in such a mannerthat the flames impinge against the walls of the fire box. In

supply of air to the burner. is effected by an automatic control unitwhich will now be described.

The control unit above referred to is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3of the drawings wherein the numeral 23 indicates a liquid fuel supplymain which leads from any suitable source of supply (not shown).Interposed in this main is an electrically operated pump 24 ofanyapproved type which'in its operation will malntain 'a flow of liquidThe supply main 23' leads to the lower end is provided with abranch 37which is. placed in communication with the fuel cyl1n-' of a fuelcylinder indicated by the numeral 28, and mounted for verticalreciprocation in this cylinder is a piston comprising a head 29 and astem'30, the stem beingled through a stufliug box 31.upon the upper headof the cylinder .As stated, the main 23 opens into 7 vthe lower end ofthe cylinder, so that when the pump 24 is in operation, liquid fuel willbe forced under pressure into the cylinder and the pressure exertedagainst the piston will effect an elevation of the piston, nor mally tosubstantially thedotted line .position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.The

numeral 32 indicates-a return fuel pipe which leads from the supply main23 at a point between the pump 24 and the fuel cylinder 28, andinterposed in this pipe is a choke or pressure valve indicated bythenumeral 33. The purpose of the pipe 32 isto conduct back to thesource/ of supply any surplus fuel, under conditions whe're more thanthe required amount is being delivered by the pump 24 to the fuelcylinder 28. The oilsupply pipe 14 isconnected at its intake end to thecasing of a cut-off valve 34, and a pipe 35 is led from this valve down-'wardly beside the fuel cylinder 28 and communicates 'at its lower endwith the casing of a needle valve indicated by the-numeral 36, thecasing of the valve having its intake connected with the said cylinder28 substantially at the lower end thereof. The pipe der 28 near theupper end of the said cylinder, and if desired a cut off valve 38 may beinterposed in the pipe 35 above the said branch 37. A small branch pipe39 leads from the upper end of the pipe 35 and'has a downward branch 40opening through the upper head of the cylinder '28, and this pipeconstitutes a bleed for the fuel supply line-under conditions which willpresently be explained.

Mounted upon the top of'the cylinder 28 is a frame structure indicatedin general by the numeral 41 .and including spaced uprights 42 and 43.This frame structure 44 in which works a piston head 45 supported at theupper end of the piston rod 30, the piston rod 30 extending through astufling box 46 upon the lower head of the cylinder 44. The upper end ofthe cylinder 44 is closed by a head 47 which may be provided with aremovable plug or closure 48 to permit of the introduction into thecylinder of the fluid which is to offer resistance to move- 7 ment ofthe piston 45. The by-pass for the resistance fluid comprises a pipe 49having its lower end connected by an elbow 50 with justed so as to moreor less retard the flow the lower end of the cylinder 44 and its upofthe resistance fluid through the by-pass.

The gas supply pipe 21 heretofore referred to is placed in communicationwith a gas.

- main indicated by the numeral 52, and inter- I posed in this main isa'valve 53 which is normally held closed but which is provided with astem54 extending exteriorly of its casing and adapted, uponthe'exertionof pressure thereagainst, to effect opening of the valve. Thenumeral 55 indicates a bracket which is mounted upon the casing of thevalve or upon any other appropriate fixed support, and mounted forrocking,

movement. upon this bracket arm is a valve actuating lever 56 having ahead at one side of its pivot indicated by the numeral 57 for co-actionwith the upper end of the valve 54. A dog 58 is pivoted as at 59 to theother end of the actuating lever 56 and in one position hasshoulderedengagement with the end of the said lever so that in thisposition the.

dog will be held fixed in alignment withthe lever. A spring 60 ismounted upon the 1 under side of the lever and bears against the dog-tohold it in the'position stated and it'will'be understood that the dogmay be moved about its pivot against the tension of this spring.Preferably the end of the dog is provided with a rounded nose'indicatedby the numeral 61. The numeral 62 1nd1- cates :1 lug upon the iston rod30 and it will be evident that the movement of this lug.- The actuatinglever 56 preferably works in a guide 63 upon the upright 43 of the framestructure 41, and at this point it will be evident that with the partsin the position shown in Fig. 2, when the piston 29 is forced upwardlypressure of the liquid fuel delivered to the cylinder 28 by ride againstthe'under side of the dog 58v and swing the corresponding end of thelever 56 in an upward direction thus causing the other end 57 to exertdownward pressure'upon the valve stem 54 to 0 en the valve and permitflow of gaseous uel through the conduit or main 52 and to the pilot tube21. It will likewise be evident that at a point in the upward movementof the lug 0g 58 is in the path of a under the I of the lug 62, the saidlug will ride down-.

wardly against the rounded nose of the dog 58, and sweep past the dog,moving the same upon its pivot 59, until it again assumes a positionbeneath the said dog. The conditions under which this operation takesplace will presently be set forth.

' The blower9 which has heretofore been referred to, is preferablydriven by an electric motor indicated in Fig. 10f the'drawings by thenumeral 64. Conductor wires 65 lead to the motor and establishelectrical connection between-the same and a switch which is indicatedin general by'the numeral 66.

The switch 66 is preferably mounted upon a panel 67 supported in turnupon a bracket 68 mounted upon the upright 43 or any other convenientfixed support. The said switch comprises fixed spaced contacts 69 whichare mounted upon the panel and to which the conductor wires areconnected. The

switch further comprises a switch blade 70 which is pivoted at a pointintermediate its length, as at 71, upon the panel 67 and is provided atone end with a stud or roller 72 which works between spaced fingers 73upon an oscillatory trip member 74 pivotally mounted as at 75 uponthepanel. The other end of the switch blade 70 is designed'to bridge thecontacts 69, .in one position of adjustment of the blade, and in anotherposition of adjustment of the blade, namely the one illustrated in fulllines' in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is out,of contact with the I saidcontacts 69 so that the circuit is broken.

' is connected at one end to the outer en the rocker 76 and at its otherend to the; so

A rocker 76 has pin and slot connection as at 77 with the oscillatorytrip member 74 and is mounted for rocking movement as at 78 upon thesaid panel 67. A sprin 79 of pivot 75 for the oscillatory trip'member74. A link 80 is connected at its upper end to the rocker 76 andat itslower end as at 81 to an actuating lever 82 which is pivoted at one endas at 83 to the upright 42 of the frame structure 41 andextendstransversely beside the piston rod 30 and is provided at its other endwith a weight 84. A lug 85 is provided upon the piston rod 30 and ridesbeneat the lever. 82. r

The operation of the burner is as follows:

' The circuit is closed through the electric motor operating the pump 24by a switch (not shown) and in the operation of the pump oil will'beforged through-the main 23 and into the lower end of the cylinder 28.The pressure of the oil will cause the piston 29 to rise in the cylinderand, the valves 34 and 38 being open, oil will flow into the pipe 35.and finally into the pipe 14. In the meantime the lug 62 will, initsupward movement, ride beneath the dog 58 and rock the valve actuatinglever 56 so as to cause its end 57 to press'downwardly upon the stem 54of the valve 53 thus opening the valve and permitting flow of gaseousfuel through the main 52 and to the pilot tube 21. The fuel beingignited at the discharge end 22, of the tube 21, a pilot flame isestablished in thefire box of the furnace to ignite the fuel deliveredto the burner 2. The piston 29 continues'to rise, and it will I beevident that the fuel. oilwill he admitted into the pipe 35-and to theburner tube-14 1 in regulated volume controlled by the adjust ment ofthe needle valve 36. Finally the piston 29 will uncover the end of thepipe branch 37 whereupon the fuel oil ingreater volume will be admittedinto the pipe 35 and supplied in like volume to the tube 14.

The oil initially supplied will at this time have been ignited at theburner, and at the time. the bra'nch37- of the pipe 35 is uncovered bythe piston 29, or substantially at such time, the lug 85 will have actedagainst the lever 82. to elevate the lever and actuate the rocker 76 tobreak the toggle formed by this rocket and the piston member 75 thusthrowing the switch blade 70- to position to close the circuit throughthe motor 64 and set in operation the. blower 9 so that air underpressure will be suppliedv to the burner and to the pipe 20 in themanner previously explained. .Of course, in

the normal operation of the burner, the several component parts thereofwill maintain an equilibrium, but should the temperature rise above themaximum limit or should the pump 24 for any reason cease to operatc.

the thermostatic device 26 would inthe first instance out off the supplyof current to the motor for the pump, and in the latter instance thepump would of course not function. Uuder these conditions, the flow ofoil Jlo to the oil cylinder. 28 would ceaseand the piston 29 would lowerunder the pressure exerted upon it bythe weighted lever 82. In thelowering movement of the piston and likewise in the lowering movement ofthe lever 82, the switch 66 would be actuated" in a manner the reverseof that above explained so as to cut off the supply of current to'themotor 64-for the blower 9, and like wisethe supply of fuel oil throughthe branch 37would be discontinued or cut g'ofl'. The downward movementof the piston. 29 in the cylinder 28 creates a suction above the pistonand as a. consequence thereof any ,orl WhlCh may be present in the pipe14 'w ll be drawn out and delivered into the upper end of the cylinder28 by way of the of the dog 58 and the lever 56 is released, it willdrop to its lowered, position thus permitting. the valve 54 to close andcut oif said pipe39 and its down branch 40. Of course, when the lug62rides past the nose thesupply of gaseous fuel to the pilot tube 21.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1. A liquid fuel control for liquid fuel burners, comprising afuel'cylinder, a piston therein, means for retarding the movement of thepiston, a gaseous fuel supply main independent of the fuel cylinder,automatically I controlled means for admitting fuel to the cylinderatone side of the piston, means for conducting fuel to the burner to besupplied and normally active for conductingfuel from the cylinder inregulated quantity, and active in a shifted position of the piston toconduct fuel from the cylinder in greater quantity, and means controlledthrough movement of the piston for regulating the supply of gaseous fuelthrough the said gaseous fuel supply main.

' 2. A liquid fuel control for liquid fuel burners, comprising a fuelcylinder, a piston therein, a fuel conducting pipe for conducting fuelto the burner to be supplied and having connection with the cylinder atone side of the piston to provide for the supply of fuel inregulatedquantity under normal conditions, the pipe having a branch likewisecommunicating with the cylinder and arranged, in one position. ofshifting move mentof the piston to' be uncovered thereby whereby topermit theflow 'of fuel through the conducting pipe in greater quantity,andv means automatically controlled for admitting fuel to the cylinder.

3. A liquid fuel control for liquid fuel burners, comprising a fuelcylinder, a piston therein, means for admitting fuel to the lower end ofthe cylinder beneath the piston, a fuel conductingpipe for conductingfuel to the burner to be supplied and having a branch in communicationwith the cylinder near the lower end thereof and below the piston in itslowered position, thesaid' pipehaving another branch of greaterconducting area communicating with the cylinder at an elevated point andadapted to be uncovered in ashifted 'position of the. piston whereby toadimit fluid to theconducting pipe in greater quantity in said positionof the piston, and means controlling the. admission of fuel to thecylinder; I

4. A liquid fuel control comprising a fuel cylinder, a piston therein,means for admitting fuel to the lower end of the cylinder beneath thepiston, a fuel conducting pipe having a branch in communication withthe.

cylinder near. the lower end thereof and below the piston in its loweredposition, the said pipe having another branch of greater conducting areacommunicating with the cylinder at an elevated point and ada ted to beuncovered in a shifted position 0 the piston whereby toadmit fluid tothe conducting ipe in greater quantity in said position of't e piston,means controlling the ad- 7 mission of fuel to the cylinder, a gaseousfuel supply main-independent of the fuel cylinder, and means actuatedthrough movement' of the piston for controlling the s pp y of gaseousfuel through said mam.

5. A liquid fuel control for liquid fuel burners, comprising-a fuelcylinder, a piston therein, means for admitting fuel to the lower end ofthe cylinder beneath the piston, a'fuel conducting pipe for conductingfuel to the burner to be supplied and having a branch in communicationwith the cylinder near the lower end thereof and below the piston in itslowered position, the! said pipe having another branch of greaterconducting area communicating with the sion'of fuel to the cylinder, andmeans establishing communication between the upper end of the cylinderand the said conducting" pipe to provide for exhaustion of fuel from thesaidvpipe upon downward movement "of the piston and a creation of apartial vacuum in the upper end of the cylinder 6. A -liquid fuelcontrol for liquid fuel 10o burners, comprising a fuel cylinder, apiston 7' therein, means for admitting fuel to the,

lower end ofthe cylinder beneath the pis ton, a' fuel conducting pipefor conducting,

fuel to the burner to be supplied and having a branch'in communicationwith the cylinder near the lower end thereof and below the piston in itslowered position, the said pipe having another branch of greaterconducting area-communicating with the cylinder at an elevated pointandadapted to be uncovered in a shifted position of the piston whereby toadmit fluid 'to' the conducting pipe in greater vquantity in saidposition of the piston, means controlling the admission of fuel to thecylinder, and means operable automatically upon downward movement of thepiston for effecting exhaustion of the fuel from the said conduct-' inpipe. a p

A liquidfuel control comprising a fuel cylinder, a piston thereinincluding a rod extending exteriorly of the cylinder, automaticallycontrolledmeans for admitting fuel to the cylinder atone side of the.piston, means normally active for conducting fuel from the cylinder inrestricted quantity,- and active in a shifted position of the pis ton toconduct fuel from the cylinder in greater quant ty, a gaseous fuelsupply main,

lee

a valve therein having a stem extending actuate the valve and move .thesame toexteriorly, the valve being normally seated, open pdsition at a,predetermined point in,

and a lever arm engaged at one side of its the shifting movement of thepiston.- 10

pivot with the stem of the valve, the said In testimony whereof we aflixour signa- 5 piston rod having means for coaction with tures.

the said lever arm at the other side of it's JOHN. PAUL JONES. [L. 8;]

pivot to effeet rocking of the lever arm to GEORGE NEMBACH. [11. 8.]

